Pipe coupling



E. H. KOCHER PIPE -coUPLING -Dec, l2, 1939.

Filed May 26,*1934 :zal

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INVENTQR ATTORNEYS Patented 12,1939

UNITED s'rA'rl-:s Vlali'llezlar oFFl-CE PIPE COUPLING -V Edward H,Kocher, Boonton, N. J., allignorg-to Auto Research Corporation, acorporation ol' Delaware Application May 26, 1934, Serial No. 727,719

8 Claims. (Cl. 285-123) The presentk invention relates to couplings, andit particularly relates to compression couplingconnections, particularlyadapted for metallic tubing, such as aluminum, copper and brass tub- 6ing of relatively small diameter and bore.

Considerable pdiiliculty has been encountered with compression couplingsin which a tubing end is gripped by a tapered sleeve deformed betweenand by a threaded bushing or tappednut 10 screwed into a tapped socketor onto a threaded nipple ona mounting element, due to the cocking ofthe relative small compression coupling sleeves. When the axes of suchsleeves are inclined or cocked at an angle to the axes of the tubingends,

` defective coupling joints will be formed which will not be lubricantor liquid-tight.

The proper connection of these couplings require the handling of thesmall sleeves, placement of them upon the tubing ends, insertion of 2othe tubing ends into the threadednipples or tapped sockets of themounting elements, and tightening up of the threaded bushings or tappednuts, all with skill and care to make certain that the tubing end andthe sleeve will each be placed in proper position in respect to eachother,and also the bushings or nuts and the tubing ends.

As a result, when assembly is made, considerable delay is encounteredand substantial manual effort is demanded. This special handling anddelay is particularly disadvantagous in large scale mass productionoperation, as for example,

on automobile assembly lines where 'these couplings are utilized to jointogether tubing sections to each .other through junctions, or tobearings in connection with lubricating systems,

gasoline lines and/or so forth.

Among the objects of the present invention are.

to provide a compression coupling arrangement of the characterdescribed, which is self-aligning 40 and devoid ofcocking tendencies,which will effect a particularly secure and huid-tight connection andwhich is capable of ready disconnection without mutilation.

Another object isv to provide a compression coupling arrangement inwhich the arrangement may be preassembled before being shipped from theplace of manufacture to the place of utilization, so that it ispossible, for example, for the man at the assembling position toassemble the coupling with a maximum of convenience and with a minimumof manipulation of time and expenditure without separate handling of thesleeve-and nut. i

A special feature of the present invention is a provision of aconnection between'the coupling sleeve and with the nut or bushing toalign the coupling sleeve or structure, eliminating any tendency thereofto cock and enabling the coupling sleeveyand the nut to be preassembledat the place of manufacture. 'I'he assembled unit 5 may be shipped assuch to the place of utilization, and the coupling connectionmay be madeby inserting the tubing end in position in the unit and slightlytightening the nut or bushing.

Another feature of the invention is to provide l0 cooperating abuttingsurfaces between the compression coupling sleeve and the nut or bushingand between the compression coupling sleeve and the mounting structureso that the sleeve will be held against'turning on a greater radius byl5 its contact with the mounting structure than it will be turned by thenut or bushing during the tightening operation.

In the drawing, which shows several of the various possible embodimentsof the several fea- 20 tures ofthe invention:

Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 are longitudinal sectional views, respectivelyillustrating diiferent embodiments of the present invention as appliedto a coupling bushing with the coupling sleeve in 25 position without itbeing deformed to grip the tubing end.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig.3 after such coupling sleeve has been deformed in position to grip thetubing.

Figs. 6 and '7l are longitudinal sectional views illustrating thecombination of a coupling sleeve with a coupling nut withthe tubing endin position before the coupling sleeve has been deformed to grip thetubing end.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig.7 after the tubing end has been gripped in position. a

Although the coupling connections of the 40 present invention arebroadly adapted to various utllizations they will be particularlydescribed in connection with T fittings, such as shown in Figs 2 and 5of the copending application Serial No. 502,900, filed December 17,'1930 now Patent 4 No. 2,029,325 of February 4, 1936, and also inconnection with drip plug fittings of the character shown in Fig. 6 ofsaid same application.

In the present drawing, Figs. 1 to 5 illustrate 50' the application to aT Ajunction or to a tapped socket structure, while Figs. 6 to 8illustrate the application to a drip plug-or other threaded nipplestructure. both oi which are particularly de- Signed to be utilized incentral lubricating sys- 55 tems, especially central chassis lubricatingsystems.

In Fig. 1 the mounting structure I0, which may take the form of an armor a stem of a T or a boss on a bearing structure, is provided with aninlet bore which has an enlargement I2, forming a socket. The bottom ofthe enlargement l2 has a sloping abutment I3. The socket or enlargementI2 at the end of the bore is tapped, as indicated at |4,to receive thenut I5.

The nut |5 is provided witha head, preferably of hexagon or squareshape, to receive a wrench or other turning tool, and is provided with ashank I8, the end portion of which is threaded at I9 to fit into thetapped portion I4 of the socket I2.

The nut is provided with a central opening 20 which receives the tubingend 2|. The -tubing end 2| abuts against the sloping bottom I3 of theenlargement or socket I2. Y i

The inner end of the bore 20 of the nut |5 is provided with anenlargement 22 of cylindrical shape which is adapted to receive theguide sleeve extension 23 of the coupling sleeve 24. The coupling sleeve24 has an inwardly diverging tapered surface 25 between the guideportion 23 and the cylindrical portion 2B which abuts the sloping bottomI3 of the socket I2 at its outer edge 28. It will be noted that the boreof the sleeve 21 is somewhat larger than the bore 25 of the nut I5.

As shown in Fig. 1 the tubing coupling connection has notas yet beenmade. In making the connection the sleeve 24 is slipped into the recess22 in the nut i5. the dimensions of the parts being such that a tightconnection will be formed. Then the sub-unit consisting of the couplingnut |5 together with the connected coupling sleeve 24 may be slippedover the end of the tubing 2|, or more preferably the coupling nutassembled with the sleeve 24 as a unit may be screwed into positionuntil the outer edge 28 of the sleeve portion 26 will contact with thesloping shelf I3 at the bottom of the socket I2.

In the last mentioned instance, the T head or other junction fittingcontaining the bushings I5 with the attached sleeves 24 may be shippedaround as assembled units, requiring only that the tubing ends 2| be putinto position before tightening of the connection to make the coupling.

Upon tightening of the nut or bushing i5, the outer end of the slopingportion 25 will be crimped against the tubing end 2|, while the edge28-of the bushing will bite into the shelf I3. This will form a liquidtight connection and at the same time the guide sleeve 23 will be brokenaway from the recess 22 so that the nut I5 may be readily subsequentlyremoved without detaching the sleeve 24 from the tubing end 2|.

It will be noted that the nut I5 will wedge the sleeve 24 inwardly atthe point 29, which is much inside o f the point 23. As a result, theradius of wedging in respect to the turning nut will be much less thanthe radius of wedging between the sleeve 24 and the connecting memberI0, so that the sleeve 24 will not be turned by the nut and there willbe no danger of twisting the tubing during the tightening operation.

It is evident therefore that the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 providesboth aligning means permitting a compression coupling to be preassembledwithout danger of cocking and also assures that the tubing will not betwisted. during the coupling operation.

the tubing end 2| is passed The diameter of the'bore 23 in the sleeve 24is slightly larger than the diameter of the bore 2l in the nut I5 so asto tend to prevent the tubing end 2| catching 'on the sleeve 24 whenfrom within theNnut I5 to within the sleeve 24. This construction isparticularly advantageous when `the tubing is slightly bent or isinserted at a slant, as other- Wise the inner edge of the tubing 3lmight contact and catch with the edge of the sleeve 3|. This might makeit seem to one inserting the tubing end 2| that its end 3l had alreadyreached the shelf I3 at the bottom of the socket and he would thentighten up the connection and make a defective coupling.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 5, are shown different embodiments in which similarlyfunctioning parts are indicated by the same numerals providedrespectively with a prime, an inferior 2, and an inferior 3.

In Fig. 2 the end of the nut 43 contacts with a shoulder 4| onthe sleeve24' so that the end of the nut I5' will exert an axial pressure throughthe body of the sleeve 24'. The bottom of the socket |2' is rounded atI3 and the tubing end 2|' extends beyond this rounded portion I3' to theshoulder 42 at the beginning of the enlargement |2'.

It will be noted that the inner end 43 of the sleeve 24' is taperedinwardly so as to contact with the rounded surface I3' adjacent thebottom of the socket |2.

When the nut |5' is tightened the sleeve 24' will be crushed inwardly atthe contact 40-4I so that it will crimp the tubing end 2| at this point.The tapered portion 43 will be deformed against the rounded portion |3with the result that the radius of the contact area in respect to theconnecting element III' of the T iitting or other mounting structurewill be much greater than the radius o f the contact area between thenut I5' and the sleeve 24'.

In Fig. 3 the sleeve 242 is connected to the end 402 of the nut |52 by athin piece of metal 44 which has been formed by cutting inwardly with acutting tool at 45. 'I'he cut 45 is made in such a way that the adjacentsurface of the sleeve, as indicated at 46, will be tapered toward theaxis of the tubing outwardly.

As a result a double tapered sleeve 242 will be formed integrallyconnected to the nut |52. When the nut |52 is tightened, the thin pieceof metal at 44 will be broken and the sleeve will be deformed adjacentthe edges of its inner taper 432 and its outer taper 45, doublydeforming and gripping the tubing.

It will be noted that the enlarged diameter 212 on the inside of thesleeve 24: is extended beyond the sleeve 242 to the point 41, so as toprevent catching of the tubing and more ready passage of the end of thetubing 302 when being inserted into the nut and sleeve unit |52-242.

When the bushing |52 is tightened and the coupling is completed, theeffect will be as shown in Fig. 4. It will be noted that the tubing isdoubly deformed, as indicated at 41 and 43 and with the sleeve beingdeformed, as indicated at 49 and 50. As shown, the inner taper 432 hasbeen rolled up against the curved bottom portion |32 of the socket |22and that the thin edge 44 has been broken and has been deformed into theprojecting edge appearing at 5| where it conveniently fits into theextended recess.

In Fig. 5 the nut or bushing |53 is provided with an extension 52 ofreduced diameter which ts into the sleeve extension 53 of the couplingsleeve 24s.

The inside face of the sleeve 54 is provided with an annular groove 55with the result that the sleeve will primarily .be pressed by the nut|53 at its edge 56 inside of the groove 55.

The tapered face 433 of the sleeve 24a will roll up against the curvedshoulder |33 of the socket and will resist any turning moment due tocontact between the edges 56 and the extension 52 of the nut or bushing|53.

The coupling connections of Figs. 1 to 5 are particularly designed forstructures or nipples containing threaded sockets as in connection withJunctions and bearing structures.

Figs. 6 to 8 relate to the application of the novel principles of thepresent invention to tubing couplings to threaded nipples, as forexampleto drip plug structures of the character disclosed in Patents No.1,632,771 and No. 1,632,772.

In Fig. 6 the nut 51 is provided with a hexagon portion 58 to enableturning by a wrench. The nut has a central tapped socket 59 and the topof the nut or cap 51 is provided with a central opening 60. Inside ofthe opening 60 is the tapered shoulder 6| forming a bottom for thetapped socket 59.

'Ihe opening 60 receives the cuii' 62 constituting an extension of thecoupling sleeve 63. The sleeve 63 is provided with a bore 64 closelyembracing the tubing end 65 and with an outside cylindrical face 66between the relatively steep taper 61 and the relatively blunt taper 68.

The cufi' or extension 62 received in the opening 60 in the top of thenut or cap 51 enables the sleeves 63 and the nut 51 to be assembledtogether as a unit. The cooperating tapers 6| and 68 assure a crimpingor deforming contact between the nut 58, and the sleeve 63, causingdeformation of the coupling sleeve and gripping of the tubing end 65.-

'I'he inner taper 61 contacts with a relatively blunt taper 69 on thehard metal sleeve 10 and is adapted to be deformed by said sleeve so asto roll inwardly and crimp the tubing 65 and to be deformed over thesurface of said bevel 89. The contact between the taper 61 and the bevel69 will keep sleeve 63 from turning with the nut or cap 58 when it isbeing screwed into position.

The hard metal sleeve 10 is provided with a shoulder 1| which receivesand forms an abutment for the tubing end 65. The sleeve 10 is alsoprovided at a shoulder 12 which rests upon the end of the threadednipple 13 of the drip plug structure 14. The skirt 15 oi the sleeve 10closely fits into the socket 16 of the drip plug and annularly clampsthe filter or strainer member 11 in positionin said socket.

Fig. /7 shows another embodiment, similar to that disclosed inconnection with Fig. 6, similarly functioning parts being designated bythe same numerals primed.

In Fig. '7, the opening 60' in the top oi' the nut 51' more closelyencircles the tubing end 65' and the extension 62 of the sleeve 63' isreceived in an enlargement 18 at the bottom of the socket of the nutbetween the opening 60 and the tapped socket 59'. The tapered couplingsleeve 63 is provided with a relatively square shoulder 19, againstwhich the nut 51' presses, in forcing the sleeve into deformingcombination with the tubing end 65,.

Fig. 8 shows the coupling of Fig. 7 after the coupling has been made andthe nut A51' has been tightened upon the nipple 13'. It will be notedthat the tubing has been crimped or deformed inwardly at 19 and 80 dueto compression of the taperedcoupling sleeve 63' at 8| and 82 by theshoulder 6|' of the coupling nut 51 and the bevelled\portion 69' o1' thesleeve 10'.

It is obvious that by utilizing the present invention, it is possible tosell and preassemble the coupling sleeve and the nut or bushing to form`out disturbing the connection of the coupling sleeve to the tubing end.Moreover, the coupling is effected without twisting of the tubing andwithout danger of cooking the tapered sleeve, with a resulting improperconnection.

It is obvious that the above showings are merely illustrative and thatthe invention may be widely applied to various couplings which areincluded in the scope of the appended claims.

Although the dimensions and angles may be widely varied, in certaininstances in commercial practice it has been found satisfactory to'utilize certain dimensions and angles.

For example, in Fig. 1, the angle of the taper 25 may be about 18, whilethe diameters of the pipe exterior 2|, of the bushing bore 20, of thebushing recess 22, and of the s leeve bore 21 may be respectively about0.156, about 0.162, about 0.184, and about 0.170 inch respectively. InFig. 2, these diameters may be about the same and the angles of thebevels 43 and I3' may be about 25 and 30, respectively.

In Fig. 3, for example, with the same external tubing bushing bore andsleeve bore diameters, the sleeve bore diameter is extended to theshoulder 41, and with the same angles at 432 and |32, the angle of thetaper 46 may be about 45 and the bottom diameter of the cut about 0.178inch.

diameters, the internal 'sleeve bore diameters re- `spectively may beabout 0.166, about 0.162, and

about 0.166, the angles of the bevels 433, 61 and 61 may in eachinstance be about 25, the angle of the bevels 69 and 69' may be about70,` and the diameters of the press-litted connections 52-53, 60-62 and60'-62 may be about 0.210, 0.177 and 0.181 inch respectively. The bevel68 of Fig. 6 may have an angle of about 45.

- I claim:

1. In a tubing compression coupling connection for a lubricating system,a tubing end, a threaded mounting element provided with a shouldermember to abut said tubing end and a bore placed in lubricant tightcommunication with said tubing, an annular threaded coupling elementreceived on said tubing and screwed onto said mounting element, saidmounting and coupling elements having internal annular shouldersadcoupling connection having a frangible connection to said couplingelement, whereby said coupling element and said sleeve may be initiallyassembled. stored, shipped, and handled as a singleunit and saidfrangible connection may be broken by screwing said coupling element inplace in respect to said mounting element to crimp said sleeve aboutsaid tubing, said sleeve having an increased internal diameterrelatively to said coupling element to assure that no abutment of saidtubing end will take piace at said frangible connection.

2. In a tubing compression coupling connection for a lubricating system,a tubing end, a threaded mounting element provided with a shouldermember to abut said tubing end and a bore placed in lubricant tightcommunication with said tubing, an annular threaded coupling elementreceived on said tubing and screwed onto said mounting element, saidmounting and coupling elements having internal annular shouldersadjacent the tubing wall, an annular tapered sleeve element, received onsaid tubing and wedged between said internal annular shoulders on saidmounting and coupling elements and crimped thereby onto said tubing uponscrewing and tightening of said coupling element to said mountingelement, said sleeve before making the coupling connection having afrangible connection to said coupling element, whereby said couplingelement and said sleeve may be initially assembled, stored, shipped andhandled as a single unit and said frangible connection may be broken byscrewing said coupling element in place in respect to said mountingelement to crimp said sleeve about said tubing, said frangibleconnection being formed by providing an internal annular recess in'theinside of said coupling element and by providing an annular flange orcuff on the adjacent end of'said sleeve fitting into said recess, saidange being of substantially lesser depth than said recess whereby itwill not completely ll the same and whereby the frangible connectionwill be most readily broken.

3. The coupling connection of claim 1, the coupling element consistingof an internally threaded nut and the mounting element consisting of anexternally threaded nipple.

4. The coupling connection of claim 1, the mounting element including aninternally threaded socket and the coupling `dement including anexternally threaded bushing.

5. The coupling connection of claim 1, said frangible connectionconsisting of a thin integral metal collar connecting said couplingelement and said sleeve element.

6. The coupling connection of claim 1, said frangible connectionconsisting of an extension cuff on the sleeve element and a recess toreceive said cuff on the end of the coupling element.

7. The connection of claim 2, said mounting element consisting of anexternally threaded nut and said coupling element consisting' of aninternally threaded socket.

8. The coupling connection of claim 2, said coupling element consistingof an internally threaded tapped nut and said mounting elementconsisting of an externally threaded nipple.

EDWARD H. KOCHER.

